RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 Further to my own comment about the number of coaches she can pull, I hooked nine on last night of which six were Bachmann MK1s with their weights still in them, and she handled the rake without a trace of wheel slip around my 30" curves. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) It's sometimes difficult to tell the difference between Churchward taper and Collett taper buffers from photographs, but the bodystock radius of the former was smaller than the latter, and 'occupied less' of the baseplate area. Hornby's Collett taper rendition is generally too chunky, but was probably dictated by Hornby's standard overlarge buffer shank. Some Stars were fitted with Collett tapers, and 4018 seems to be one of them. 4061 had them as well, at least in BR days.Collett parallels appeared in BR days. P.S. Note the absence of lining on the top feed pipe cladding on 4061. Edited November 10, 2013 by Miss Prism Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffalo Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 If we go down the route of subscription only locos I suspect that will be the death knell for Hornby and possibly the hobby. I think that the usual rules of commerce may apply in such a case. If a vacuum is created by the withdrawal or failure of Hornby (and that is a way off I think), Bachmann will take part of that market but surely Peco will join with perhaps Dapol (or maybe DJM?) to offer some competition and full the market gap. Yes, the present obsession with video games and other less challenging activities does affect the access to our hobby for youngsters but was it ever thus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2013 Two Hours to Birmingham anyone? GWR_Star_4018_passing_at_speed_3ab_r1200_crop2.jpg That's not a Jubilee and a fine rake of LMS coaches! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 Taking this one stage further,I would consider a possible way forward for Hornby as a player in the seriously-minded r-t-r market would be the creation of a separate company ,as distinct from Hornby Hobbies.A narrower focus should enable improved production and delivery. One wonders whether or not the model rail market seriously contributes to the profitability of the company and whether their products are too widely scattered. Leaner means fitter,perhaps? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2013 That's not a Jubilee and a fine rake of LMS coaches! No, it's better! SS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2013 I note that Steam are still quite on the subject, no update since September. SS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) Taking this one stage further,I would consider a possible way forward for Hornby as a player in the seriously-minded r-t-r market would be the creation of a separate company ,as distinct from Hornby Hobbies.A narrower focus should enable improved production and delivery. One wonders whether or not the model rail market seriously contributes to the profitability of the company and whether their products are too widely scattered. Leaner means fitter,perhaps? I take the point Ian but I think Hornby is still a powerful brand, even though serious enthusiasts might not think so. I'd suggest keeping Hornby but splitting the range into something like "Silver Seal" or "Blue Riband". This would relate to top quality models. As has previously been suggested ,things like the B17 ,L1,Castle,King Arthur. The specifications relating to this brand would be clear. Wire handrails, etched plates, type of motor etc so everyone knows the spec, what they will be getting and can place orders with confidence Thereafter you would have "Railroad" which I always think sounds too American, so personally I'd go for the nostalgia market and have "Triang Railways" in this would be all the other models. It would be helpful if a full spec were given for each, as they would include some older models with various specs However this too needs a clear specification for any new models, so it should be clear what we are getting and whether we want to upgrade to "Blue Riband". At the moment things like the Star , Hall and P2 are in no mans land and it's not clear which ones , if any I should go for. I'd take the opportunity to update catalogue. The current versions have now followed the same format for 5 or. 6 years, have become boring and do not contain relevant information. Cut it down in size, give more details, make it more appealing Edited November 10, 2013 by Legend Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 In light of this thread I hope Hornby never do a Saint, much rather Bachmann do it. If we go down the route of subscription only locos I suspect that will be the death knell for Hornby and possibly the hobby. Not necessarily.Radical change could ensure its future.Let us be frank,something has to change. Chris Leigh made the point some while ago that the age profile of the market clientele is 'advancing' In my case to the dinosaur stage.The positive benefits of subscription/ commission production would mean more control over production quality and authenticity/accuracy.It has been stated here more than once that some of us would be prepared to pay that extra for prime quality.For instance,the Dapol OO Western was the result of close consultation pre-production.Where that was subsequently lacking was in the matter of reliability and QC. We have to face the fact that the clock is ticking on the hobby,anyway.A radical change could be a life-enhancing Viagra. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 External Link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Basingstoke,_with_GW_%27Star%27_4-6-0_geograph-2896730-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg extract...Portsmouth - Birmingham express at Basingstoke, with late-surviving ex-GW 'Star' 4-6-0. View westward, towards Southampton, Bournemouth, Weymouth, also Salisbury, Exeter etc.: ex-LSW main line from Waterloo, joined here by the ex-GW line from Reading etc. The 13.11 Portsmouth Harbour to Birmingham Snow Hill joined the LSW main line at Eastleigh and will run via Reading West Curve and Oxford to Birmingham. The Churchward 'Star' is No. 4061 'Glastonbury Abbey', built 5/22 and withdrawn 3/57. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 external link to BRDatabase ref 4061... http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=4061&loco=4061 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 external link 4018 http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=4018&loco=4018 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/64518788@N05/8076665470/ Star 4061 Glastonbury Abbey passes High Wycombe with rather a short train in summer 1957 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/64518788@N05/8076665470/ Star 4061 Glastonbury Abbey passes High Wycombe with rather a short train in summer 1957 Which it can't have if it was withdrawn in March of that year, I suspect the picture might have been taken in 1956 after the front bufferbeam number had been painted on as it still looks fairly visible although the smokebox numberplate has been replaced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
6959 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Left side of 4061 showing pipe cover on smokebox... "One of the last GWR Stars, 4061 Glastonbury Abbey turns onto the North Warwickshire line at Tyseley with an excursion from Birmingham Snow Hill to Swindon in September 1955". http://www.robertdarlaston.co.uk/Railways50yr.htm scroll down to img161 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 I note that Steam are still quite on the subject, no update since September. SS Phone them up and speak to Geoff like I did last Thursday, he will tell you all they know. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 10, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 Phone them up and speak to Geoff like I did last Thursday, he will tell you all they know. That's interesting as Andy Y sent him an email last week [02/11] and has heard absolutely nothing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 Simon Kohler new nickname 12 spoke !! Confucius him speak with 12-spoked tongue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 Stationmaster and I know a better one. The unexpurgated version,one might assume..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieS Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: Ex ... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Hargrave Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 One could possibly not say. That good? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2013 Phone them up and speak to Geoff like I did last Thursday, he will tell you all they know. Due to my shift pattern that will not be possible for nearly a fortnight unless Steam have some unusual opening hours like 7am to 7pm. SS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted November 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2013 In light of this thread I hope Hornby never do a Saint, much rather Bachmann do it. If we go down the route of subscription only locos I suspect that will be the death knell for Hornby and possibly the hobby. A friend of mine has just received three N-scale US diesels that he pre-ordered over two years ago. They were not subscription models but the entire production run had been pre-ordered by the time they finally arrived and none actually reached the open retail market. We might think/hope it won't happen here, but the situation that arose around Bachmann's SECR-liveried C Class wasn't far short of it. I was one of quite a few who missed out on one but I'm not going to go into a decline if they don't re-run it. They'll just not make a sale and I'll spend the cash on something else. Efforts to match production levels to demand and thereby minimise unsold stock will undoubtedly continue but the manufacturers need to be careful that they don't overdo it. If too many potential customers are disappointed too often, they may cease to be customers altogether. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach bogie Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 In light of this thread I hope Hornby never do a Saint, much rather Bachmann do it. With 850 comments regarding Stars with only a few options, how far will the thread go with the numerous engine variations possible with the Saints? I have built six Saints in the last twenty years and no two are the same and that is before I even begin to start on the straight frame versions. Mike Wiltshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 The mind boggles at the thought of various Saint variants, I'll think my Christmas great if I see a BR Star, and maybe a DoG before the end of year, and see others with the full Great Gathering A4 set. With the nature of detailed modelling as discussed here perhaps more than any other public web forum, it is still unclear how many buyers would notice minor detail differences in models. For instance, when SK encouraged the production of the Merchant Navy in 2000 he might have been aware that the first ten engines differed a bit from the subsequent 20, but I'm not sure how many buyers cared. Similar applies to Castles and most other engines of course. There was a degree of very skilled adaptability built into many models of he early-mid 2000s; Black 5 boilers, West Country/BoB narrow cab and tender variations, and others. I wonder if is these skills which are hard to match to current labour and production systems? Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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